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Circular Economy

A circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible. Instead of take, make, throw away (the linear way), products are designed to last, be repaired, reused, shared and recycled, so less new raw material is taken and less waste is made.

๐ŸŽฌ Step-by-step story

  1. Here is a loop. Blue is the factory, orange is a home, green is a repair and recycle spot, brown is the mine and grey is the waste pile. Nothing moves yet.
  2. First the linear way: take, make, throw away. Each product is used once and goes to the waste pile. The pile grows and we need new raw material every time.
  3. Now half of the products go to repair or recycle and come back into the loop. The waste pile gets smaller.
  4. Now all products come back. The loop is closed. We need no new raw material and make no waste.
  5. This is the idea of a circular economy: make things last, fix them, reuse them, recycle them. The numbers below show zero waste.
  6. Your turn. Move the slider for how much comes back. Watch the waste pile and the new raw material change.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

๐Ÿค” Common doubts, cleared

Is recycling enough to be circular?

No. Reduce, reuse and repair save more than recycling. Recycling is the last step.

Why does the waste pile shrink in step 3?

Because the items now come back to the loop instead of going to the bin.

Is zero waste possible?

It is the goal. In real life some material is always lost, so we try to get as close as we can.

Does it cost more?

Sometimes at the start, but reusing and repairing can save money over time, as in step 4.

Linear and circular economy

In a linear economy we take resources from nature, make products and throw them away. It is a straight line that ends in waste. Resources are limited, so this cannot go on for ever.

In a circular economy the line is bent into a loop. Materials and products keep going round, so we take less from nature and leave less waste behind. This is also called an ecological economy because it follows nature, where one thing's waste is food for another.

The main ideas

Sharing economy and digital tools

The sharing economy lets people rent or borrow instead of owning. Apps connect the owner and the user of a bike, a room or a tool. When one item is used by many people, fewer items need to be made. Digital tools also help: online markets for second-hand goods, and tracking of where materials go.

Gains and difficulties

Gains: less waste and pollution, less need for new raw material, savings for families, and new jobs in repair, collection, recycling and rental services. Difficulties: some products are built to be thrown away, recycling can cost energy, new rules and habits are needed, and workers in old industries must learn new skills. Governments help with rules, repair rights and training.

Key formulas and definitions

Worked examples

1. A shop sells 10 phones. 6 are collected and recycled back into new phones. How many phones' worth of new raw material is still needed?

10 ร— (1 โˆ’ 0.6) = 4 phones' worth.

2. A glass bottle is refilled 20 times instead of using 20 plastic bottles once. How many bottles of waste are avoided?

20 single-use bottles are avoided. Only one bottle is made (and eventually recycled).

3. A town has 50 families. Each buys a drill used 2 hours a year. If they share 5 drills, how many drills do they save?

50 โˆ’ 5 = 45 drills are saved.

4. A factory throws away 100 kg of scrap a day. It starts selling 70% of it to a recycler. How much waste is left?

100 ร— 0.30 = 30 kg a day.

5. Is repairing a torn school bag more or less circular than buying a new one?

More circular. Repair keeps the bag in use and avoids making a new one.

Common mistakes

Practice quiz

1. Linear economy means:
2. Which comes first in circular thinking?
3. A refillable bottle is an example of:
4. If 100% of products come back into the loop, new raw material needed is:
5. The sharing economy mostly helps by:

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.

Frequently asked questions

What is a circular economy in simple words?

An economy where things are made to last and are repaired, reused, shared and recycled, so very little goes to waste.

What is the difference between linear and circular economy?

Linear is take, make, throw away. Circular keeps materials going round in a loop.

Does a circular economy create jobs?

Yes. Repair, collection, sorting, recycling and rental services all need workers, though some old jobs change and need new skills.

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